Here are a few counter intuitive rules, or laws, that seem to be in effect when it comes to RVs.

1. RVs are made almost entirely of stuff that will degrade if left outside for any length of time. Your car isn't. But your camper is. Go figure. All these years those vent covers are STILL made of stuff that will dry rot in hot sun in 2years or less. And let's not even talk about decals or lap sealant...

2. RVs are designed by people who have never spent a week in one. This explains why the cabinet that has the water filter canister is screwed shut and the LED in the light switches keeps you awake at night. And why there is a grey tank outlet under your slide out room. And so on.

3. Cars and trucks come with manuals. RVs do not. Sure, you usually get one for the furnace, the fridge, the AC, etc. But you are NOT going to get a manual for the complete unit that might suggest best practice for use and maintenance of the camper. Imagine your car coming with only a manual for the transmission and the alternator.

4. The final assembly point for any RV is the owners backyard. The first thing I had to do to mine was plug up all the drafty leaks and holes so that the AC (or the furnace) could actually handle the load without running all the time. A whole can of Great Stuff. And some foam board. Duct tape. You know...

5. If you don't like to tinker and have no basic knowledge of how to use simple tools, do not get an RV. See above rules.

And there are many more...Feel free to add your own.

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__________________KU4OJ
Admin at www.openroadsradio.net, part of the Social Knowledge network.
"RVing and Amateur Radio served up on the same plate"2008 (or is it 2009?) Rockwood 8280SS - 2007 F-150
Lot's of mostly Kenwood radios

Could not agree more. I second the comments and can think of a few more. I can thank the RV industry for all of the training we have received over the years. The more they screw up, the more I learn and fix / make better. We can't bullet proof one, but we dang sure try to.

Reminds me of the industry I work in. Spend 1 billion on a floating drilling rig or ship, spend first 2 years minimum fixing it to where it works right (people who build don't use them), and the manuals are all but 100% correct. Go figure.

Yeah, but they could still use off the shelf items in their construction, not special RV designs. I was truly amazed when I had to remove an inoperative outlet due to the table support putting pressure on the six outlet adaptor. When I removed it and saw that they use push connections instead of screws to connect the hot and neutral wires, I was flabbergasted! This design is not even UL approved!

"Higher quality" = more expensive brand names... only... That term does NOT indicate you're getting higher quality parts... or more attention to detail when assembling is taking place. I want to camp... not tinker and fix. Unfortunately, the two go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, I retire in a bit over 16 months... and I am handy. Looking more and more like I'm going to be a Winnebago Ultra Light trailer mechanic/owner... or same for Grand Design Reflection... Jayco Eagle... Evergreen Element...Gulf Breeze Champagne Series... or... just shoot me...

Yeah, but they could still use off the shelf items in their construction, not special RV designs. I was truly amazed when I had to remove an inoperative outlet due to the table support putting pressure on the six outlet adaptor. When I removed it and saw that they use push connections instead of screws to connect the hot and neutral wires, I was flabbergasted! This design is not even UL approved!

I do not think that UL approval is required. I think they must meet RVIA.